Apparatus for drafting textile fibrous strands



NOV. 12, 1968 J, R, WHn-EHURST AQQQ@ APPARATUS FOR DRAFTING TExTLEFIBROUs sTRANDs Filed July 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 54' INVEWOR:

JOE.- E WHlTEHUlZ-r ET 7&4/ BYMMMQMMMM ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1968 .1. R.vvHVrEHURsT 3,409,946

APPARATUS FOR DRAFTING TEXTILE FIBROUS STRANDS med July 5, 196e ssheersheet z :1 1: gummiA 1NVENT0R: 7 JOE: RWHWEHURST ATTORNEYS Nov. 12,19 J. R. WHITEHuRs-r 3,409,946

APPARATUS FOR DRAFTING TEXTILE FIBROUS STRANDS Filed July 5. 1966 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR:

JOE-E WHITEHURST ATTORNEYS nited States Patent O 3,409,946 APPARATUS FORDRAFTING TEXTILE FIBROUS STRANDS Joe R. Whitehurst, Bessemer City, N.C.,assignor to Ideal Industries, Inc., Bessemer City, N.C., a corporationof North Carolina l Filed July 5, 1966, Ser. No. 562,831 7 Claims. (Cl.19-292) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for varying theeffectivelength of a drafting zone to Vaccommodate a wide range of s taple lengthfibers Without changing the spacing between the drafting elements, suchasv spaced sets of drafting rolls, defining the draftingzone, whichapparatus includes deliecting means adjustably positioned bet-Ween thesets of drafting rolls for engaging and laterally deflecting the textilematerial being drafted, and wherein the deflecting means comprises apair of cooperating members forming a nip with one of the samepreferably being driven at a speed intermediate the respective speeds ofthe sets of drafting rolls.

The present invention relates to a textile fibrous strand processingapparatus, and more particularly to such an apparatus wherein textilefibrous strands are drafted in at least one drafting zone and whereinthe effective length of the drafting zone may be varied without changingthe spacing between the drafting means defining the drafting zone.

Conventional textile processing machines for drafting fibrous strandsare well known and include at least two spaced apart cooperating sets ofdrafting means defining a drafting zone therebetween to draft textilefibrous strands passing therebetween. Such conventional strandprocessing machines suffer from at least one major deficiency whichcauses acute problems in both the manufacture and operation thereof. Inthis respect, it is frequently desirable or necessary to vary theeffective length of the drafting zone defined by the sets of draftingmeans for various reasons, such as varying fiber length in the variousfibrous strands to be processed.

To provide for this variance in the effective length of the draftingzone between the sets of drafting means, conventional strand processingmachines are manufactured with an extra long bedplate and the sets ofdrafting means are adjustably mounted thereon in such a manner that thespacing therebetween and hence the length of the drafting zone may bevaried. This extra long bedplate and adjustable mounting for the sets ofdrafting means necessitates additional parts and labor in themanufacture of these conventional strand processing machines and hencethe machines are more expensive. Additionally, such machines occupyexcessive floor space due to the extra long bedplate which isundesirable for obvious reasons.

Further, the adjustment of the spacing between the sets of draftingmeans on such conventional strand processing machines is quite timeconsuming and laborious and results in a considerable loss of productionsince the operation of the machine must be stopped for a considerableperiod of time to perform this adjustment. This loss of production andthe time and labor involved in adjusting the sets of drafting means addsconsiderably to the cost of operation of the textile machine.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention toprovide novel textile fibrous strand processing apparatus utilizing atleast two spaced apart cooperating sets of drafting means defining adrafting zone therebetween for drafting a strand passing there- CJI ice

between and wherein the effective length of the drafting zone may bequickly and easily varied to accommodate a wide range of fiber lengthswithout 'changing the spacing between the sets of drafting means. v

A more specific object of thepresent invention insito provide a fibrousstrand processing apparatus ofthe character described wherein theeffective length of the drafting zone is increased by deflecting thestrand laterally vof the plane in which the drafting means lie toincrease lthe length of travel thereof between the drafting means andwherein the strand is confined in this deflected' path' of travel toprevent disruption of the strand. Y l

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear asthe description procee'ds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which: l A i A l FIGURE l is a fragmentarytop plan view of a textile brous strand processing machine incorporatingthe present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of the portionof the machine within the box 2 in FIGURE 1 with portions removed andbroken away for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 3of a modified form of the fibrous textile strand processing machineincorporating the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line6-6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary -sectional view taken substantially along line7-7 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line8-8 in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary isometric View of a drafting roll supportingblock of the machine shown in FIG- URE 5 with the drafting rolls removedand illustrating the manner in which the strand deflecting means ofthepresent invention is mounted thereon.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE1, a textile fibrous strand processing machine 10, in the form of adrawing frame, is shown and is illustrative of the machines with whichthe present invention is concerned. It should be understood that whilethe present invention is illustrated and described in connection withthe drawing frame 10, it is not restricted thereto, but may be utilizedwith any textile fibrous strand processing machine which includes aplurality of sets of drafting means defining a drafting zonetherebetween, such as a drawing frame, roving frame and spinning frame.

Machine 10 comprises a two-delivery drawing frame having two draftingmechanisms 11, 11' to which textile fibrous strands S, S' are deliveredfor drafting, and also having coiler mechanisms 12, 12', for condensingthe drafted strands into sliver form and for coiling the same insuitable receptacles, such as sliver cans. Drafting mechanisms 11, 11comprise a plurality of spaced apart sets of drafting means 13, 14, 15,16, and 13', 14', 15', 16', respectively. As illustrated in thedrawings, these sets of drafting means comprise top and .bottom uteddrafting rolls, the rolls of the drafting mechanism 11 being referred toas 13a, 13b; 14a, 14b; 15a, 15b; and 16a, 16b, and only certain rolls ofdrafting mechanism 11 being shown in the drawings, namely rolls 13a';14a'; 15a', 15b'; and 16a'.

Conventionally, the sets of drafting means 13, 13'; 14, 14'; 15, 15';16, 16 are disposed in parallel relation and areY supported -for.rotationain .,suitablegendtbearingr,

blocks 17, 17' and a medial bearing block 20, all of which are carriedby a bedplate 21 of the machine 10. These bearing blocks include.upwardly ,opening grooves., such asgrooves 22, 23, 24 and.25.'in bearingb1ock20 (FIGURES 2 and 9), inwhichthe'ends of ,the sets of draftingrolls 13, 13'; 14, 14'; I1515'; 16,. 16'. are-,respectively.disposed.Conventionally, the.drafting mechanisms 11 11'; havefthebottomdrafting-.rolls of eachv ofthe sets formed as portions of a sha-ftwhichextendsbetwen the end bearing ,blocks 17,-17-'.All ofthessshaftsare connected to and` driveniby a conventionalvdrivemechanism 26 which. is dri-venbya motor 27;; l The' drafting mechanisms11, 11'- usuallyfhavewindividual or separate top rolls whichtare freelyrotatable relative to thebottom rolls, and Ameans 3,0, 31, 32, and33t-are .provided for respectively weighting the .,toprolls rolls withpredetermined pressure to providethe, desired interaction between thesets. oft-rolls... These .weighting means are Iprovided at each en dofthe top rollsand-rna'y be in any desired form but are illustratedasadjustable, spring biased weighting means.

. Conventionally, adjacent sets of drafting means in each draftingmechanism are spaced apart a predetermined distance to dene draftingzones therebetween which progressively decrease in length from the rear.sets of rolls 13, 13' to the front sets of rolls 16, 16' (FIGURE lengthof each drafting zone. to accommodate a widerange f of fiber lengthswithout changing the spacing between the sets of drafting means. Suchameans 34 or 34' is disposed in each drafting zone defined by adjacentsets of drafting means 13, 14; 13', 14'; 14, 15,714', 15'; 15,

16; I15', 16'; and comprises strand deflecting means 35 or 35 fordeflecting the strands S or S' passing through the drafting zoneslaterally of the predetermined plane in which the sets of drafting meansconventionally are disposed. Each of the strand deecting means 35 or .3.5' is rst illustrated in the form of an elongate nose bar member 36 or36', including a rounded upper- Strand engaging edge 36a or 36a' and arotatable roller 37 or 37' cooperating with the strand Aengaging edge36a'or 36a' of nose bar 36 or 36' to define a strand gripping niptherebetween, Nose bar 36 or 36' androller` 37 or 37 aremounted forvertical adjustment at their opposite ends in upwardly opening grooves38 or 38' (FIGURE 4) formed in the bearing bloeit 20, and in similargrooves (not shown) formed in the bearing blocks 17, 17f, respect to thesets of` drafting means.

Each end of nose bar 36 or 36' includes an internally threaded openingtherein through which penetrates.l a threaded shaft 40 or 40' mountedfor rotation at its lower end in the bearing blocks 17, 17' and 20 andin a suitable bearing 41-or 4:1' (FIGURE 4) at its upper end alsocarried by thebearing blocks. The upper end of shaft 40 or 40' is formed4into ,a hexagonal head 40a or 40a' which isadapted to receive asuitable Wrench thereon fortrotation of the shaft relative to the nosebar 3 6 or 36'. Upon and roller 37 or. 3.7' are moved upwardly ordownwardly with respect to the bearing blocks and the sets of draftingmeans to vary `the amount that the strands are detiected to thereby varythe effective length of the drafting zone.A

` 'Suitable weighting means 43 or 43'. is provided at each end of roller37 or 37' for applying downward pressure with such rotation of theshaft40 or 40', nose bar 36 or, 36T

.theretototpressthenoller. againstthenose bar 36A or- 3.6'

to provide the desired gripping action on the strands passingtherebetween. Weighting means 43 or 43' may be of any character, but isillustrated as an adjustable, spring biased weighting means similarinconstruction to weighting means 30-'33 for `the-. top drafting rolls.The Weighting for-.cepppliedto r`vc` lle1g3 7V 0 1-37' should be suchthat fibers; may-slip therebetween without -breakage .since there mustbe a slip draft between the roller 3.7.,.or `37' and nose bar 36or36'; fY" v f f To aid in the adjustment of'strand deecting means 35, 35',bearing block 20 has a, scale 44 mounted thereon between the Adraftingmechanisms 11, 11and between adjacent stsoffdrftirig means-"Scale 44:is""calibrated in anydesred` manner to indicate the .amount of.deflection that 1is,heingperformedon thestrands passingrbetween thesetsfof drafting-means. An indicating or pointing elemenf45t`=gl5'isrcarriedfby each ofthe nose bars 36,36.' andeooperatemwithxhe; scale44ste indicate `this amount offdellectionr. v l., f

-zReferring-now -toFIGURES 58,.a modifiedform of strandwdeflectingmeanst or isshown in connection wit-h astrand processing machinerwhichis substantially the "same as thatdescribed above and will not,therefore, be redescribedin connection with thisembodiment. The primarydifference between this strand processing machine and that shown inFIGURES 1 4 is that the adjacent sets of drafting means are illustratedas being spaced the same distance apart as opposedto the progressivelydecreasing spacingY shown in FIGURE 3. t

Y rStranddeiecting meansk 50 or y50,' comprises a pair of rotatablemembers 51, 52 or 51', 52' mounted in the bearingrblocks 17, 17 and 20.Lower member 51 or 51' comprises an elongate apron rotatably supportedat its upper end on shaft 54 or 54' and at its lower end on shaftp0rtion 53 or l53' (FIGURE 9). Shaft portions-53 and 53' are preferablyportions of a shaft which extends the full length ofI both draftingmechanisms 11, `11' and is rotatably mounted in suitable Ibearings v55carried bythe bifurcated lower'end of amounting member 56. Mounting,member 56 has upwardly facing Vslots S7, 57' inthe upper cornersthereofin which are mountedV suitable bearings 58, 59; 58', 59' whichrotatably journal one end of theupper `shafts 54, 54' and. upperrotatable member52, 52' which are preferably in the form offreelyrotatable rollers. Similar mounting. members (not shown) will beprovided at-the bearing blocks 17, 17'.

Mounting member 56 has :an internally threaded opening therein in whichis disposed a threaded shaft 60 rotatably mounted at its lowerend inbearing block l20. The ,upper end of shaft 60 is in the form of ahexagonal head 60a for rotation thereof and vertical adjustment of themountingmember, and hence the strand deflecting means. A scale `61 isvcarried by mounting member 56 for movementtherewith vand a stationarypointer 62 is carried `by shaft. 60. Pointer 62 cooperates with scale 61to indicate 4the position of the strand deflecting means,

A suitable weighting means 63 or 63 is provided for each vend of theupper rollers 52 or 52 to press the same into engagement with the upperend of apron 51 or l51'. These .weighting means, 63, 63'tmay be of anycharacter but preferablyA are adjustable, .spring biased weightingmeans. As with weighting means 43, 43', weighting means 63, 63 shouldprovide a slip draft between aprons 51, 5,1' and rollers `52, 52.'. t j

` Preferably, shaft .portions 53 and 53' are driven and in turn.positively-drive the aprons 51, 51' and preferably have roughenedsurfaces` engaging theaprons to insure this positive drive. To drivethese shaft portions, a drive train (FIGUREN is provided thereto fromthe lower drafting means of the set of drafting means immediately behindthe lstrand detiecting means 50, 50'. This drive train includes a gear64 mounted on shaft portion 53 and meshing/with a gear 65 mounted ou astub shaft 66. Stub shaft 66 is journaled at its opposite ends in themedial portion of a pair of levers 67 pivotally mounted at one end onshaft 53 and carrying anotherstub shaft 70 at the other end thereof.Stub shaft 70 carries another gear 71 thereon which meshes with gear 65and also pivotally connects the pair of levers 67 to one end of anotherpair of levers 72. The pair of levers 72 are pivotally mounted at theother end thereof on the lower drafting means and journal a stub shaft73 in the medial portion thereof which carries a gear 74. Gear 74respectively meshes Iwith gear 71 and a drive gear 75 carried by thelower drafting means. The described lever and gear arrangement permitsthe aprons 51, 51 and the shaft portions 53, 53 to be adjustedvertically while still maintaining the driving relationship thereto.

The size of the gears are such that shaft portion 53 is driven-from thelower drafting means to drive the aprons 51, 51' at a speed corollatedto the speed of the drafting means. In this respect, the surface speedsof the drafting means progressively increase'from rear to front toprovide the desired draft, and preferably, the aprons '51, 51 are drivenat a surface speed greater than the surface speed of the drafting meansfrom which it is driven by an amount equal to one-half the difference inthe surface speed of this drafting means and the next adjacent draftingmeans toward the front of the machine.

It is noted that in the embodiment illustrated in FIG- URES 5-9, thedefiecting means for both the drafting mechanisms 11, 11 are adjustablevertically as avunit. However, it should be understood that the same maybe independently mounted, as are the defiecting means illustrated inFIGURES 1-4, and in such an arrangement, shaft portions 53, 53' would beunconnected and drive mechanisms would be provided to each shaftportion.

In the drafting of textile fibrous strands, the length of a draftingzone between adjacent sets of drafting means is primarily dependentuponthe staple length of the fibers in the strands, with the length ofthe front drafting zone usually being slightly greater than the longestlength of fibers in the strands and the lengths of the other draftingzones progressively increasing from front to rear of the machine. Asstated above, the lengths of the drafting zones have heretofore beendependent solely upon the spacing between the adjacent sets of draftingmeans. With the present invention, the lengths of the drafting zones aredetermined independently of the spacing between the adjacent sets ofdrafting means.

In this respect, the strand detiecting means are adjusted verticallyrelative to the sets of drafting means by rotating the threaded shafts40, 40 or 60 to a predetermined height, as indicated by scales 44 or 61,which height, along with spacing between the adjacent sets of draftingmeans, will provide the desired effective lengths of the drafting zonesfor the staple length fibers in the strands to 'be processed. Thestrands are then processed in the normal manner and are laterallydefiected between the adjacent sets of drafting means by the stranddeflecting means 35, 35' or 50, 50 with rollers 37, 37' or 52, 52'serving to maintain the strands in contact with the nose bar members oraprons and to prevent ffy-off .from or disruption of the strands beingdeflected.

If lfibrous strands of a different staple length `are desired to lbeprocessed, the lengths of the drafting zones may be readily changed byvertical adjustment of the Strang deecting means without varying thespacing between the adjacent sets of drafting means.

It is, therefore, believed apparent that a novel textile fibrous strandprocessing machine is provided wherein the effective lengths of thedrafting zones between adjacent sets of drafting means may be varied toaccommodate a wide range of fiber lengths without varying the spacingbetween the sets of drafting means and without the problems and losttime involved with conventional strand processing machines.

In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferredembodiments of the invention, and although specific terms are employedthey are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention [being defined in theclaims.

What is claimed is:

|1. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine having at leastthree'serially arranged, spaced apart cooperating sets of drafting meansdisposed in parallel relation and defining a plurality of successivedrafting zones therebetween, each of said drafting zones lyingin Vapredetermined plane and being of a predetermined length; the improvementwhich comprises means for substantially increasing the effective lengthsof the drafting zones to accommodate a wide range of fiber lengths-without changing the spacing fbet-weenthesets of draftingy means, saidmeans comprising defiecting meansfdisposed between adjacent sets ofdrafting means in each of said drafting zones for engaging anddeffecting the strand laterally of the predetermined plane ofeachdraftingzone to lengthen the path of travel of the strand betweensaid sets of drafting means, each of said defiecting means comprising apair of cooperating members defining a strand gripping niptherebetween', weighting means operatively associated with said pair ofmembers for urging Vthe same to-ward each other with sufficient force toprovide the desired gripping action on the strand while permitting aslip draft through the nip thereof, means mounting each of saiddeilecting means for adjustment relative to and independently of saidsets of drafting means and independently of the other deflectin-g meansto selectively vary the amount the strand is deflected in each draftingzone and thus the amount the effective length of each drafting zone isincreased t0 accommodate the wide range of fibers without changing thespacing between the sets of drafting means, and indicating meansoperatively associated with each-of said strand defiecting means forindicating the position of the strand deflecting means relative to saidpredetermined plane for facilitating adjustment of said stranddeflecting means to the proper position to obtain'the correct effectivedistance 'between the adjacent sets of drafting Imeans.

2. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine having at least threeserially arranged, spaced apart cooperating lsets of drafting meansdisposed in parallel relation and defining a plurality of successivedrafting zones therebetween, each of said drafting zones lying in apredetermined plane and being of a predetermined length; the improvementwhich comprises means for substantially increasing the effective lengthsof the drafting zones to accommodate a wide range of fiber lengthswithout changing the spacing between the sets of drafting means, saidmeans comprising deflecting means disposed between adjacent sets ofdrafting means in each of said drafting zones for engaging and deectingthe strand laterally of the predetermined plane of each drafting zone tolengthen the path of travel of the strand between said sets of draftingmeans, each of said defiecting means comprising a pair of movablecooperating mem-bers having their proximal surfaces 'movable in thedirection of movement of the strand through the drafting zone anddefining a strand gripping nip therebetween, weighting means operativelyassociated with said pair of members Ifor urging the same toward eachother with sufficient force to provide the desired gripping action onthe strand while permitting a slip draft through the nip thereof, meansmounting each of said deflecting .means for adjustment relative to andindependently of said sets of drafting means and independently of theother deecting means to selectively vary the amount the strand isdeflected in each drafting zone and thus the amount the effectivelengthgof each drafting zone is increased to accommodate the wide rangeof fibers without changing the spacing between the sets of draftingmeans, and driving lmeans operatively connected to one ofsaidcooperating members of each pair for driving the same so that itsproximal surface moves at a speed greater than the speed of the rearwardadjacent set of drafting means but less than the speed of the forwardadjacent sets of drafting means.

3. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine according to claim 2,wherein said cooperating members of each pair comprise a freelyrotatable roller and an apron, two spaced rotatable shafts mounting saidapron for movement thereon, and wherein said one cooperating memberdriven by said driving means is said apron, and said driving meansoperatively connects said apron to one of the sets of drafting means.

4. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine according to claim 3,wherein saiddriving means for each of said aprons includes a drivingelement carried by one of said drafting means, a driving element carriedby one of the shafts mounting said apron, and means connecting saiddriving elements and permitting adjustment of said apron relative tosaid predetermined plane While still maintaining the proper drivingconnection between said apron and said drafting means.

5. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine according to claim 3,wherein said drive means for each of said aprons comprises a gear trainincluding a first gear mounted on one of the drafting means of anadjacent set of drafting means, a second gear mounted on one of theshafts supporting the apron, and intermediate gears between said firstand second gears providing the desired direction of movement of theapron and arranged to permit vertical adjustment of the apron whilestill maintaining the driving connection thereto.

6. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine having at least twospaced-apart cooperating sets of drafting means disposed in parallelrelation and defining a drafting zone lying in a predetermined plane andof a predetermined length therebetween; the improvement which comprisesmeans for substantially increasing the effective length of the draftingzone to accommodate a wide range of ber lengths without changing thespacing between the sets of drafting means, said means comprisingdefiecting means disposed vbetween the sets of drafting means forengaging and deflecting the strand laterally of said pre- 40 determinedplane to lengthen the path of travel thereof between said sets ofdrafting means, said deecting means comprising a pair of cooperatingmembers having movable proximal surfaces defining a strand gripping niptherebetween, drive means connecting one of said cooperating members toone of said sets of drafting means Afor driving the movable proximalsurface thereof at a speed greater than the rearward adjacent set ofdrafting means 'but less than the speed of the forward adjacent set ofdrafting means, and means mounting said deflecting means for adjustmentrelative to and independently of said drafting means to Ivary the amountthe strand is deflected and the amount the effective length of thedrafting Zone is increased to accommodate the wide range of bers withoutchanging the spacing between the sets of drafting means.

7. In a textile fibrous strand processing machine according to claim 6including indicating means operatively associated with said stranddeflecting means for indicating the position of the strand deflectingmeans relative tosaid predetermined plane for facilitating adjustment ofsaid strand deecting means to the proper position to obtain the correcteffective distance between the sets of drafting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 241,851 5/1881 Essex et al.19-261 1,586,735 6( 1926 Fonseca 19-25 9 1,784,659 12/1930 Devaux 19-2721,973,582 9/1934 Stone et al. 19-288 2,695,428 11/1954 Naegeli 19-250FOREIGN PATENTS 510,073 8/ 1920 France.

554,471 3/ 1923 France. 1,283,279 12/1961 France.

715,839 1/ 1942 Germany.

908,948 3/ 1954 Germany.

16,024 1892 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

DORSEY NEWTON, Assistant Examiner.

